Intelligent automatic expansion/contraction of abbreviations in text-based electronic communications

ABSTRACT

A method for intelligently handling abbreviations in text-based electronic communications can begin with the compilation of abbreviation usage history data by an intelligent abbreviation handler component of a text-based electronic communications system. The abbreviation usage history data can indicate a presentation preference for abbreviation elements based upon past usage by the user. An abbreviation element can be an abbreviation, an acronym, or an initialism. The abbreviation element can be presented in a condensed format or an expanded format. Abbreviation elements can be identified in a received text-based electronic communication. The presentation preference of each identified abbreviation element can be intelligently determined for each recipient from the abbreviation usage history data. An abbreviation-adjusted text-based electronic communication can be created for each recipient using the received text-based electronic communication and the determined presentation preference. The abbreviation-adjusted text-based electronic communication can be conveyed to the recipient.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to the field of electronic communicationsand, more particularly, to the intelligent automaticexpansion/contraction of abbreviations in text-based electroniccommunications.

Text-based electronic communications (e.g., emails, instant messages,text messages, social network postings, etc.) have become a key part ofmany aspects of daily life—home, office, social, and community. Theseelectronic communications often include a variety of abbreviations,including acronyms, initialisms, and shortened word formats. In fact, awhole set of abbreviations have been developed to reduce the number ofkey strokes when writing text and/or instant messages. For example, aperson can type “LOL” to abbreviate the phrase “Laugh Out Loud”.

Abbreviations are also commonplace in technical and/or militaryenvironments. Often times, the same abbreviation means different thingsin different contexts and/or environments. For example, the acronym“RSS”, an information technology (IT) setting, is able to stand for RichSite Summary, Really Simple Syndication, Recording and Streaming Server,as well as other definitions. In a military setting, RSS stands forRegimental Support Squadron, Rescue Swimmer School, Radar SupportSystem, and others. These multiple meanings severely reduce thecommunication efficiency originally provided by using abbreviations.

Approaches have been developed to address the issue of multiple meaningsby automatically expanding or contracting abbreviations in text-basedcommunications based upon context. While such an approach is helpful tosome degree, ambiguous abbreviations are still problematic, especiallywhen multiple definitions of an abbreviation are applicable to thecontext. These tools and approaches disregard the sender's and/orrecipient's prior usage of the abbreviation to guide usage.

Further, these approaches assume that all viewers or recipients of thecommunication wish to view the text in the same manner. Individualizedpresentation of abbreviations is unavailable. That is, using such anapproach, a recipient who prefers to have expanded abbreviationscontracted (e.g., prefers to see “on my way” as “omw”) is unable to havetheir communications presented as such.

BRIEF SUMMARY

One aspect of the present invention can include a method forintelligently handling abbreviations in text-based electroniccommunications. Such a method can begin with the compilation ofabbreviation usage history data for abbreviation elements by anintelligent abbreviation handler component of a text-based electroniccommunications system. The abbreviation usage history data can beapplicable to registered or identified users of the text-basedelectronic communications system. The abbreviation usage history canindicate a presentation preference for an abbreviation element basedupon past usage of the abbreviation element by a user. An abbreviationelement can be an abbreviation, an acronym, or an initialism. Theabbreviation element can be presented in a condensed format or anexpanded format that expresses a full meaning of the condensed format.Abbreviation elements can be identified in a received text-basedelectronic communication. The presentation preference can beintelligently determined for each recipient and identified abbreviationelement from the abbreviation usage history data. Anabbreviation-adjusted text-based electronic communication can be createdfor each recipient using the received text-based electroniccommunication and the determined presentation preference. Theabbreviation-adjusted text-based electronic communication can then beconveyed to the recipient.

Another aspect of the present invention can include a system forintelligently handling abbreviations. Such a system can includetext-based electronic communications, a text-based electroniccommunications system, abbreviation usage history data, an abbreviationdictionary, and an intelligent abbreviation handler. The text-basedelectronic communications can contain abbreviation elements presented ina condensed format or an expanded format that expresses a full meaningof the condensed format. The text-based electronic communications systemcan be configured to distribute the text-based electronic communicationsamong users of the text-based electronic communications system. Theabbreviation usage history data can represent a presentation preferencefor abbreviation elements based upon past usage of the abbreviationelement in text-based electronic communications by the users of thetext-based electronic communications system. The abbreviation dictionarycan contain pairings that associate the condensed formats ofabbreviation elements with corresponding expanded formats. Theintelligent abbreviation handler can be configured to intelligentlymodify abbreviation elements contained in the text-based electroniccommunication in accordance with the presentation preference of arecipient prior to delivery to the recipient. The recipient can receivean abbreviation-adjusted text-based electronic communication in lieu ofthe original text-based electronic communication.

Yet another aspect of the present invention can include a computerprogram product that includes a computer readable storage medium havingembedded computer usable program code. The computer usable program codecan be configured to compile abbreviation usage history data forabbreviation elements contained in text-based electronic communicationshandled by a text-based electronic communications system. In oneembodiment, the abbreviation usage history data can be applicable toregistered or identified users of the text-based electroniccommunications system. The abbreviation usage history can indicate apresentation preference for an abbreviation element based upon pastusage of the abbreviation element in text-based electroniccommunications. The abbreviation element can be an abbreviation, anacronym, or an initialism. The abbreviation element can be presented ina condensed format or an expanded format that expresses a full meaningof the condensed format. The computer usable program code can beconfigured to identify abbreviation elements in a received text-basedelectronic communication that is addressed to at least one recipient.The computer usable program code can be configured to intelligentlydetermine the presentation preference of the recipients for theidentified abbreviation elements from the abbreviation usage historydata. The computer usable program code can be configured to create anabbreviation-adjusted text-based electronic communication for eachrecipient using the received text-based electronic communication and thedetermined presentation preference for a recipient for the abbreviationelements. The computer usable program code can then be configured toconvey the abbreviation-adjusted text-based electronic communication tothe recipients.

In one embodiment, abbreviations not found in a usage history associatedwith a user can result in a dynamic search being performed for thatabbreviation. For example, a set of external sources (such as a socialnetwork source for the user and/or Web published content by the user)can be queried to determine the user's abbreviation usage preference(s).In one embodiment, information discovered in this manner can be added tothe usage history for future use. Thus, the usage history can bedynamically expanded using external data sources in contemplatedembodiments of the disclosure. Moreover, the same process (fordynamically expanding the usage history) can be used to initialize ausage history for a new user, thereby lowering set-up time andminimizing the entry barrier for new users.

Further, embodiments of the disclosure are contemplated where users neednot register and where the usage history per user need not bemaintained. In such an embodiment, “usage history” (or any dataassociated with usage history in the disclosure) for any specificabbreviation can be dynamically determined/discovered as needed. Forexample, information sources having stored examples of the user'swriting, writing style, and/or writing preferences can be dynamicallyqueried. A user's preference for one or more abbreviations can bedetermined dynamically (e.g., “on the fly”) from this information, whichcauses abbreviations of a new text-based communication to be adjusted inaccordance with these preferences.

Different embodiments of the invention can be implemented at thesender's side (i.e., the adjustment is tailored for one or morerecipients by the sender's system before text communications are sentfrom a sender to each of the recipients), can be implemented at therecipient's side (i.e., a recipient can receive an original message,which is modified by a recipient's system before being presented to therecipient), or can be implemented at points in-between (i.e.,abbreviation customizing can be implemented as a Web servicetransparently linked to a backend communication server used by thesender and recipient; abbreviation customizing can be implemented as anoptional Web service, which either the sender or recipient can subscribeto, etc.).

In different contemplated embodiments, users can establish their ownpreferences through user interfaces through which the textcommunications are sent/received to tailor responses. Further, defaultconditions can be overridden (favoring the condensed format for informalcommunications and expanded format for formal communications, forexample) by manual selection or by a set of variable conditionsassociated with text communications and associated rules configurable bya user, established by a software developer, or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method describing the general use of aintelligent abbreviation handler to customize abbreviation presentationwithin a text-based electronic communication in accordance withembodiments of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system that utilizes aintelligent abbreviation handler to provide individualizedabbreviation-adjusted electronic communications to intended recipientsof a text-based electronic communication in accordance with anembodiment of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method describing the basic operation of theintelligent abbreviation handler in accordance with an embodiment of theinventive arrangements disclosed herein.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method detailing the generation of anabbreviation-adjusted communication by the intelligent abbreviationhandler in accordance with embodiments of the inventive arrangementsdisclosed herein.

FIG. 5 is an example scenario illustrating the generation ofindividualized abbreviation-adjusted emails by the intelligentabbreviation handler in accordance with embodiments of the inventivearrangements disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention discloses a solution for intelligently handlingabbreviations in text-based electronic communication. An intelligentabbreviation handler can compile abbreviation usage history for users ofa text-based electronic communications system. Based on the abbreviationusage history, the format of abbreviation elements used in newtext-based electronic communications can be modified to reflect arecipient's presentation preference.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing. Computer program code for carrying out operations foraspects of the present invention may be written in any combination ofone or more programming languages, including an object orientedprogramming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The program codemay execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user'scomputer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user'scomputer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remotecomputer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may beconnected to the user's computer through any type of network, includinga local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or theconnection may be made to an external computer (for example, through theInternet using an Internet Service Provider).

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method 100 describing the general use of aintelligent abbreviation handler to customize abbreviation presentationwithin a text-based electronic communication in accordance withembodiments of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. The term“abbreviation”, as used herein, can apply to various linguisticconstructs used to shorten a word or phrase into a single element,including, but not limited to, abbreviations, acronyms, initialisms, andthe like.

Method 100 can begin in step 105 where a user can compose an electroniccommunication, herein referred to as a communication, using a text-basedelectronic communications system. Examples of the communication caninclude, but are not limited to, an email, a text message, an instantmessage, a blog post, a social network posting, and the like.

The composed communication can be sent by the user to a recipient viathe text-based communications system in step 110. It should be notedthat, in the case of public or semi-public postings (e.g., blog), theintended recipient can be a group or subgroup of people who have accessto the posting area. Further, step 110 can be expanded to includedistribution to multiple recipients without altering the spirit of thepresent disclosure.

In step 115, the intelligent abbreviation handler can analyze thecontents of the communication. Based on this analysis, the intelligentabbreviation handler can modify abbreviation elements used in thecommunication to reflect the abbreviation presentation preference of therecipient in step 120. The abbreviation presentation preference of therecipient can be based upon the recipient's past usage of theabbreviation.

For example, the recipient may prefer certain abbreviations expanded totheir full length or phrase and others contracted or condensed.

In step 125, the text-based electronic communications system can conveythe modified communication to the recipient. In another embodiment, themodification of the communication can occur after the communication isdelivered but before it is presented to the recipient. The recipient canthen view the communication with the abbreviation elements in therecipient's preferred format in step 130.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system 200 that utilizes anintelligent abbreviation handler 230 to provide individualizedabbreviation-adjusted electronic communications 255 to intendedrecipients 260-264 of a text-based electronic communication 220 inaccordance with embodiments of the inventive arrangements disclosedherein. System 200 can be used to perform the steps of method 100.

In system 200, the sender 205 can create a text-based electroniccommunication 220 using a user interface 215 of the text-basedelectronic communications system 225. The text-based electroniccommunication 220 can be a digital container for user-entered textualdata that can include one or more abbreviation elements 222.

The text-based electronic communication 220 can represent a variety oftext-based electronic messages, including, but are not limited to, anemail, a text message, an instant message, a blog post, a social networkposting, and the like. It should be noted that the text-based electroniccommunication 220 can be coupled with other media types in the messagecontainer like a file attachment to an email having a textual body.

An abbreviation element 222 can represent a single instance where anabbreviation, in either its condensed or expanded form, is used withinthe text of the text-based electronic communication 220. For example,the phrase, “All Points Bulletin”, can be an expanded form of “APB”, thecondensed form.

The text-based electronic communications system 225 can represent thehardware and/or software components necessary to handle the conveyanceof text-based electronic communications 220 between the sender 205 andrecipients 260-264 over a network 270. Text-based electroniccommunications systems 225 are well known in the art, and, therefore,details relating to specific components and/or functionalities need notbe discussed herein.

It should be noted, however, that the text-based electroniccommunications system 225 can include a variety of components not shownin system 200, and whose operation are not influential to thisembodiment of the present disclosure; only those components involvedwith this embodiment of the present disclosure shall be discussed inrelation to system 200.

In another embodiment, the text-based electronic communications system225 can be a component of a more comprehensive multi-mediacommunications system that supports various types (e.g., audio, video,etc.) of communications.

The text-based electronic communications system 225 can include the userinterface 215, an intelligent abbreviation handler 230, and a data store240 containing an abbreviation usage history 245 and an abbreviationdictionary 250. The usage history 245 is optional in some embodiments,as user preference can be determined by dynamically querying andanalyzing a set of one or more external sources of information, eachcontaining samplings of text for ascertaining user abbreviationpreferences. The user interface 215 can be a graphical user interfaceoperating upon the computing device 210 of the sender 205 and recipients260-264 (not shown) that allows the execution of text-based electroniccommunications system 225 functions (i.e., create and view text-basedelectronic communications 220).

The client device 210 can represent a variety of computing devicescapable of supporting operation of the user interface 215 andcommunicating with the text-based electronic communications system 225over the network 270.

The intelligent abbreviation handler 230 can represent the hardwareand/or software components required to provide recipients 260-264 withabbreviation-adjusted electronic communications 255 of the sender's 205original text-based electronic communication 220. The intelligentabbreviation handler 230 can include an abbreviation handler agent 217,a text analysis engine 232, a contextual analysis engine 234, and anabbreviation usage history manager 236.

The text analysis engine 232 can be the component of the intelligentabbreviation handler 230 that parses the text of the text-basedelectronic communication 220 to identify abbreviation elements 222 usingthe abbreviation dictionary 250. The abbreviation dictionary 250 can bea collection of abbreviation elements 222, pairing the condensed formatwith one or more expanded formats or definitions.

For example, the abbreviation dictionary 250 can correlate the condensedabbreviation element 222, “ABS”, with the expanded abbreviation elements222 of “Antilock Braking System”, “Absolute”, “Abdominals”, and others.

In another contemplated embodiment, the abbreviation dictionary 250 canbe remotely-located from the intelligent abbreviation handler 230, suchas stored on a database server (not shown) or hosted by a third-partyentity. In such an embodiment, the intelligent abbreviation handler 230can communicate with the server or entity hosting the abbreviationdictionary 250 over the network 270.

The contextual analysis engine 234 can examine the contents of thetext-based electronic communication 220 to determine the context inwhich the abbreviation elements 222 are being used. The contextdetermined by the contextual analysis engine 234 can be used to selectthe appropriate abbreviation or meaning in cases of ambiguity ormultiple available definitions.

The abbreviation usage history manager 236 can be the component of theintelligent abbreviation handler 230 that compiles the abbreviationusage history 245 for the sender 205 and/or recipients 260-264. Theabbreviation usage history 245 can represent a log of abbreviations usedby the sender 205 in text-based electronic communications 220 and theformat (e.g., expanded or condensed).

Since recipients 260-264 can also take the role of sender 205, theabbreviation usage history 245 can also include data for the recipients260-264. Thus, the abbreviation usage history 245 can be thought of asdocumenting the format of an abbreviation element 222 that a viewer(sender 205/recipient 260, 262, or 264) prefers that abbreviationelement 222 to be presented.

For example, the abbreviation usage history 245 can indicate that thesender 205 writes “as soon as possible” more often than “ASAP”;recipient₁ 260 uses “ASAP” more often; and, recipient₂ 262 andrecipient, 264 prefer “as soon as possible”. Thus, when the sender 205writes “as soon as possible” in a text-based electronic communication220, the intelligent abbreviation handler 230 can replace that phrasewith the condensed form, “ASAP”, in the abbreviation-adjusted electroniccommunication 255 sent to recipient₁ 260.

The intelligent abbreviation handler 230 can also utilize anabbreviation handler agent 217 that operates upon the client device 210of the sender 205 and/or recipient 260, 262, and 264. The abbreviationhandler agent 217 can be a software application that operates inconjunction with the user interface 215 to provide the sender 205 withfeedback and/or options for utilizing the intelligent abbreviationhandler 230. The abbreviation handler agent 217 can be provided as acomponent (i.e., plug-in) of the user interface 215.

For example, the abbreviation handler agent 217 can send the intelligentabbreviation handler 230 a sentence as the sender 205 composes thetext-based electronic communication 220. The intelligent abbreviationhandler 230 can then process the sentence and return unresolved orambiguous abbreviation elements 222 to the abbreviation handler agent217, which can request clarification from the sender 205.

Network 270 can include any hardware/software/and firmware necessary toconvey data encoded within carrier waves. Data can be contained withinanalog or digital signals and conveyed though data or voice channels.Network 270 can include local components and data pathways necessary forcommunications to be exchanged among computing device components andbetween integrated device components and peripheral devices. Network 270can also include network equipment, such as routers, data lines, hubs,and intermediary servers which together form a data network, such as theInternet. Network 270 can also include circuit-based communicationcomponents and mobile communication components, such as telephonyswitches, modems, cellular communication towers, and the like. Network270 can include line based and/or wireless communication pathways.

As used herein, presented data store 240 can be a physical or virtualstorage space configured to store digital information. Data store 240can be physically implemented within any type of hardware including, butnot limited to, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a semiconductormemory, a digitally encoded plastic memory, a holographic memory, or anyother recording medium. Data store 240 can be a stand-alone storage unitas well as a storage unit formed from a plurality of physical devices.Additionally, information can be stored within data store 240 in avariety of manners. For example, information can be stored within adatabase structure or can be stored within one or more files of a filestorage system, where each file may or may not be indexed forinformation searching purposes. Further, data store 240 can utilize oneor more encryption mechanisms to protect stored information fromunauthorized access.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method 300 describing the basic operation ofthe intelligent abbreviation handler in accordance with embodiments ofthe inventive arrangements disclosed herein. Method 300 can be performedwithin the context of system 200, and/or in conjunction with method 100.

Method 300 can begin in step 305 where the intelligent abbreviationhandler can compile abbreviation usage history data. In one embodiment,this compiling can occur iteratively (as communications involving a useroccur) over time. The compiling can also dynamically occur, such asoccurring on-demand in response to a need for usage preference datarelated to an abbreviation for which persisted history is not recorded.Dynamic compiling can occur using Web-based or network based sources ofinformation, which may or may not (depending on implementation specificsof embodiments of the disclosure) be used to enhance, update, orsupplement a data store of usage history data maintained forabbreviation handling purposes. Abbreviation elements can be identifiedin an outgoing communication in step 310. This identification can occurby matching abbreviation elements against a list of known abbreviations.The identification can also occur responsive to detecting possible“misspellings” or “grammar mistakes” which are indicative a possibleexistence and use of a previously unrecorded abbreviation. In the caseof possible abbreviations, Web sources and other informationrepositories can be dynamically queried to determine if an unknown wordor phrase is to be considered an abbreviation or not.

In step 315, the abbreviation presentation preference for eachabbreviation element can be determined for each recipient of thecommunication. That is, the intelligent abbreviation handler can look upthe format that the recipient prefers from their abbreviation usagehistory. General “preferences” or default preferences can be establishedfor handling new abbreviations or handling any abbreviation lacking anentry in the table based on the abbreviation usage history.

An abbreviation-adjusted electronic communication can then be generatedfor each recipient in step 320. The abbreviation-adjusted communicationcan have the abbreviation elements of the original communicationadjusted (e.g., condensed or expanded) in accordance with the determinedabbreviation presentation preference. In step 325, theabbreviation-adjusted communication can be conveyed to the correspondingrecipient.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method 400 detailing the generation of anabbreviation-adjusted communication by the intelligent abbreviationhandler in accordance with embodiments of the inventive arrangementsdisclosed herein. Method 400 can be performed within the context ofsystem 200, and/or in conjunction with methods 100 and/or 300.

Method 400 can begin in step 405 where the abbreviation usage historycan analyze the communication for abbreviation elements using theabbreviation dictionary. The recipients of the communication can beidentified in step 410.

In step 415, a copy of the communication can be created for eachrecipient. The abbreviation usage history can be queried for thesender's and/or recipients' presentation preference of each abbreviationelement in step 420. In step 422, the Web, social communications, andother external searches can be optionally searched to see if the senderand/or recipient has recently used new abbreviations. If so, theabbreviation usage history can be updated to include the newabbreviations. In one embodiment, Web content and the socialcommunications can be dated and the abbreviation usage history can trackupdates, so that only those communications dated after the last updatewill be used to update the abbreviation usage history. In variouscontemplated embodiments, updates can be periodically performed (datetriggered) and/or can be performed based on a detection of an unknownabbreviation within a communication. Additionally, different updatecycles can exist for the sender and the recipient. For example, therecipient's abbreviation usage history can be updated in step 422 andthe sender's can be updated in step 466. Two different locations areintentionally shown for these updates (step 422 and 466) to emphasizethat abbreviation usage history updates can occur in various places inthe process shown by method 400.

In step 425, it can be determined if the recipient has a preferenceindicated in the abbreviation usage history. When the recipient has apreference in the abbreviation usage history for the abbreviationelement, it can be determined if the recipient's preference requiresmodification to the abbreviation element within the communication instep 425. When modification of the abbreviation element is required,step 435 can be executed where the abbreviation element is expanded orcondensed according to the recipient's preference.

Upon completion of step 435 or when modification of the abbreviationelement is not required, it can be determined if there is anotherabbreviation element to process for the communication in step 440. Whenanother abbreviation element requires handling, flow of method 400 canreturn to step 420 to restart the process of handling the abbreviationelement.

When it is determined that there are no other abbreviation elements toprocess in step 440, method 400 can proceed to step 480 where thecommunication can be conveyed to the recipient.

When, in step 425, it is found that the recipient does not have apreferred format for using the abbreviation element in the abbreviationusage history, step 445 can execute where it can be determined if thesender has a preference in the abbreviation usage history for theabbreviation element.

When the sender has a preference in the abbreviation usage history, theabbreviation element can be expanded or condensed in accordance withthat preference in step 450. From step 450, the flow of method 400 canproceed to step 440 to determine the need to continue processingabbreviation elements.

It should be noted that use of the sender's preference as contained inthe abbreviation usage history can be used to illustrate only onepossible means of handling an abbreviation element for which a recipientdoes not have a preference. As an alternate example, method 400 can flowdirectly to step 455 or step 475 from step 425. Further, this handlingcan be influenced by user-configurable parameters on the part of thesender and/or recipient. In another embodiment, an unknown abbreviationelement (for which a recipient doesn't have a preference) can trigger anabbreviation usage history update (as shown by step 422 or 466, forexample).

When the sender does not have a presentation preference for theabbreviation element, representing a scenario where usage of theabbreviation element is new to both the sender and recipient, step 455can be performed where the intelligent abbreviation handler can querythe abbreviation dictionary for the abbreviation element. The context ofthe abbreviation element can be determined for the abbreviation elementfrom the text of the communication in step 460.

Assuming that at least one entry for the abbreviation element was foundfor the abbreviation element in step 455, it can be determined if thecontext of the abbreviation element determined in step 460 matches oneof the definitions in step 465. An optional update of the abbreviationusage history can occur in step 466, in one embodiment. When an exactmatch for the abbreviation element is not found, step 475 can beexecuted where the intelligent abbreviation handler can request guidancefrom the sender regarding the definition and/or handling of theabbreviation element.

Step 475 can represent a scenario where multiple definitions of anabbreviation element can be applicable to the context in which theabbreviation element is used within the text of the communication. Forexample, in a email about computer systems, the definitions, “WEBSPHEREApplication Server”, “Web Application Server”, and “Wide Area System”,can all determined as possible meanings for the abbreviation element,“WAS”.

However, when there is an exact match for the context of theabbreviation element or upon guidance received from the sender inresponse to step 475, step 470 can be performed where the abbreviationusage history of the sender can be updated with the abbreviation elementand the preferred format. Updates can include checking external sourcesfor updates as well (as shown by step 422 and 466), which can optionallyoccur at this point (instead of at separate step 466, for example). Fromstep 470, flow can proceed to step 440 to determine the need to continueprocessing abbreviation elements.

FIG. 5 is an example scenario 500 illustrating the generation ofindividualized abbreviation-adjusted emails 530 and 540 by theintelligent abbreviation handler 515 in accordance with embodiments ofthe inventive arrangements disclosed herein. Example scenario 500 canutilize the concepts taught in system 200, and/or methods 100, 300,and/or 400.

In the example scenario 500, User A 505 can compose an email 510 to besent to two recipients 512—User K 535 and User D 545. As shown, theemail 510 can include two abbreviation elements 513—the condensedabbreviation element 513, “CRM”, and the expanded abbreviation element513, “as soon as possible”.

Once User A 505 sends the email 510, the intelligent abbreviationhandler 515 component of the email system can begin processing the email510. Following the basic steps outlined in methods 300 and 400, theintelligent abbreviation handler 515 can address the first abbreviationelement 513, “CRM”.

Searching the abbreviation usage history 525, the intelligentabbreviation handler 515 can find that neither User A 505, User K 535,or User D 545 have a historical preference for using the abbreviationelement 513 “CRM”. Querying the abbreviation dictionary 520, theintelligent abbreviation handler 515 can be presented with threepossible meanings of the abbreviation element 513 “CRM”.

Contextual analysis of the email 510 can identify that the use of theword “customer” is meaningful to one possible definition in theabbreviation dictionary 520—Customer Relationship Management. Therefore,the intelligent abbreviation handler 515 can conclude that thisdefinition is most likely the meaning intended by User A 505.

In this example 500, the intelligent abbreviation handler 515 can beconfigured to provide both formats of an abbreviation element 513 thatwas previously unused by the sender and recipient. Thus, theabbreviation-adjusted emails 530 and 545 that will be sent to User K 535and User D 545, respectively, can both contain the condensed andexpanded formats for the abbreviation element 513 “CRM”.

The intelligent abbreviation handler 515 can then proceed to process thesecond abbreviation element 513 “as soon as possible”. The abbreviationusage history 525 contains entries indicating how User K 535 and User D545 have used this abbreviation element 513 in past emails 510.Therefore, the intelligent abbreviation handler 515 can replace theexpanded format with the condensed format in the abbreviation-adjustedemail 540 for User D 545, while leaving the format unchanged in theabbreviation-adjusted email 530 for User K 535, since User K′s 535preference matches the format of the original email 510.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a processor; anon-transitory storage medium storing program instructions that theprocessor executes; a plurality of text-based electronic communications,stored in the non-transitory storage medium, having at least oneabbreviation element embodied within its textual contents; a text-basedelectronic communications system, comprising at least a portion of theprogram instructions, configured to distribute the plurality oftext-based electronic communications among users of the text-basedelectronic communications system; a plurality of abbreviation usagehistory data, stored in the non-transitory storage medium, representinga preference of a sender for abbreviation elements based upon pastmessages sent by that sender and the usage of the abbreviation elementin text-based electronic communications by the sender of past textcommunications the text-based electronic communications system; anabbreviation dictionary, stored in the non-transitory storage medium,containing a plurality of pairings that associate condensed formats ofabbreviation elements with corresponding expanded formats; anabbreviation handler, comprising at least a portion of the programinstructions, configured to: modify abbreviation elements contained inthe text-based electronic communication in accordance with thepresentation preference of a recipient prior to delivery to therecipient, wherein the recipient receives an abbreviation-adjustedtext-based electronic communication in lieu of the text-based electroniccommunication, wherein each recipient's abbreviation-adjusted text thatis received is consistent with that recipient's abbreviation usagehistory data, whereby each recipient has abbreviation adjusted textconsist with abbreviation usages for when that recipient sendstext-based electronic communications to others; and modify abbreviationelements based on the preference of the sender, for generating theabbreviation-adjusted text based electronic communication, whenpresentation preference of the recipient for the at least oneabbreviation element is not present in the recipient's abbreviationusage history data.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein an abbreviationelement is presented in one of a condensed format and an expandedformat, wherein the expanded format expresses a full meaning of thecondensed format of the abbreviation element.
 3. The system of claim 1,wherein the abbreviation element comprises at least one of anabbreviation, an acronym, and an initialism.
 4. The system of claim 1,wherein the text-based electronic communication comprises at least oneof a text message, an instant message, an email, a blog post, and asocial network posting.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein theabbreviation handler further comprises: a text analysis engineconfigured to identify abbreviation elements using the abbreviationdictionary; a contextual analysis engine configure to determine acontext in which an abbreviation element is used within the textualcontents of the text-based electronic communication; and an abbreviationusage history manager configured to compile and maintain the pluralityof abbreviation usage history data.
 6. The system of claim 5, furthercomprising: an abbreviation handler agent operating upon a usercomputing device configured to facilitate clarification of abbreviationelements during composition of the text-based electronic communication.7. The system of claim 1, wherein the text-based electroniccommunications system is a component of a multi-media electroniccommunications system.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the intelligentabbreviation handler is an integrated component of the text-basedelectronic communications system.
 9. A computer program productcomprising a computer readable storage medium having computer usableprogram code embodied therewith, the computer usable program codecomprising: computer usable program code configured to compileabbreviation usage history data for a plurality of abbreviation elementscontained in text-based electronic communications handled by atext-based electronic communications system, wherein said abbreviationusage history data is applicable to identified users of the text-basedelectronic communications system, wherein the abbreviation usage historyindicates a presentation preference for an abbreviation element for aspecific user based upon past usage frequency of the abbreviationelement in text-based electronic communications when the specific usersent text-based electronic messages to others; computer usable programcode configured to identify at least one abbreviation element in areceived text-based electronic communication that is addressed to thespecific user; computer usable program code configured to determine thepresentation preference of the specific user for the at least oneidentified abbreviation element from the abbreviation usage historydata; and computer usable program code configured to create anabbreviation-adjusted text based electronic communication for thespecific user using the received text-based electronic communication andthe determined presentation preference for the specific user for the atleast one abbreviation element, whereby for any given message eachrecipient's abbreviation-adjusted text that is received is consistentwith that recipient's abbreviation usage history data, whereby eachrecipient has abbreviation adjusted text consist with abbreviationusages for when that recipient sends text-based electroniccommunications to others, and wherein the at least one abbreviationelement is modified based on the preference of a sender of the receivedtext-based electronic communication, when presentation preference of therecipient for the at least one abbreviation element is not present inthe recipient's abbreviation usage history data.
 10. A computer systemcomprising: one or more processors, one or more computer-readablememories and one or more computer-readable, tangible storage devices;program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storagedevices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors viaat least one of the one or more memories, to identify at least oneabbreviation element in a received text-based electronic communicationthat is addressed to at least one recipient; program instructions,stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for executionby at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of theone or more memories, to determine the presentation preference of the atleast one recipient for the at least one identified abbreviation elementfrom an abbreviation usage history data, wherein the abbreviation usagehistory data represents a preference of a sender for the abbreviationelement when sending text-based electronic communications to others;program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storagedevices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors viaat least one of the one or more memories, to create anabbreviation-adjusted text-based electronic communication for eachrecipient using the received text-based electronic communication and thedetermined presentation preference for a recipient for the at least oneabbreviation element, wherein each recipient's abbreviation-adjustedtext that is received is consistent with that recipient's abbreviationusage history data, whereby each recipient has adjusted text consistwith abbreviation usages for when that recipient sends text-basedelectronic communications to others; and program instructions, stored onat least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by atleast one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one ormore memories, to modify abbreviation elements based on the preferenceof the sender, for generating the abbreviation-adjusted text basedelectronic communication, when presentation preference of the recipientfor the at least one abbreviation element is not present in therecipient's abbreviation usage history data.
 11. The computer system ofclaim 10, further comprising: program instructions, stored on at leastone of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one ofthe one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories,to compile abbreviation usage history data for a plurality ofabbreviation elements by an intelligent abbreviation handler componentof a text-based electronic communications system, wherein theabbreviation element comprises at least one of an abbreviation, anacronym, and an initialism, wherein the abbreviation element ispresented in one of a condensed format and an expanded format, whereinthe expanded format expresses a full meaning of the condensed format ofthe abbreviation element; and program instructions, stored on at leastone of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one ofthe one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories,to convey the abbreviation-adjusted text-based electronic communicationto the recipient.